Envelop-clasp.



No. 764,869. PATENTED JULY 12,1904. J. A. & J. E. SHERMAN.

ENVELOP CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

\A/ITH E5 5 ES (9. 9

UNITED STATES Patented July 12, 1904.

PATENT @EETDE.

JOHN A. SHERMAN AND JOHN EDl/VARD SHERMAN, OF WVORCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOP-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,869, dated July 12, 1904.

Application filed October 15, 1902. Serial No. 127,346. (No model.)

1'0 all w/wnt 7 15 HUI/Z] concern.-

Be it known that we, J OHN A. SHERMAN and J OHN EDWARD SHERMAN, of Worcester, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Envelop-Clasps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention is particularly useful for what are termed merchandise envelops, which are to be sent through the mail as thirdclass matter, and consequently must be so closed as to permit of examination by the postal authorities. It is desirable, however, that such envelops shall be securely closed, and various devices have been used to prevent their accidental opening in transit.

Our invention will be understood by reference to the drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a plan of an envelop with a clasp embodyingour invention attached thereto, the envelop being open. Fig. 2 is a similar plan, the free flap of the envelop being closed and held in place by the clasp. Fig. 3 is a side view of the clasp, and Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

e have shown our clasp attached to an en.

velop by means of an eyelet a of ordinary constructlon, and from the rim of this eyelet proects a tongue comprising a shank 6 a broadened tip 6, and two narrowly-projecting ears 6, these ears extending rearward from the point of junction of the tip 5 with the shank b and being sufficiently long preferably'to extend slightly rearward of the point. of the clasp, serving as a hinge for folding the same to close the envelop, this portion of the device having an arrow-like appearance.

0 is the body of the envelop, and (Z its free flap, which is provided with a slot 6, as shown.

In using the clasp it is passed through the slot and then is bent over and about a point thereof as a hinge, as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be noted that the tips of the ears 6 project rearward slightly past the edge of the slot, thus locking the free flap of the envelop, so that it cannot ride over the clasp and open accidentally.

e prefer to make our clasp in the form shown, as it is an extremely convenient and symmetrical shape and is easily made, attached, and used. If desired, however, one of the ears 6 may be omitted.

We prefer to attach the clasp by means of an eyelet; but it is Well known that there are other means by which clasps may be attached to envelops which will answer the same purpose as the eyelet shown.

Our clasp is made of thin bendable metal in distinction from a spring metal, so that after being passed through the slot or opening in the free flap of the envelop it may be bent down to hold the flap in place and yet may be easily bent back both at the receiving and delivering station-that is, as many times as may be reasonably necessary-to enable the postal department to make thorough examination of the contents of the envelop, our clasp being especially adapted, as stated above, for use in connection with mailing third-class or merchandise matter.

l/Vhat we claim as our invention is- 1. An envelop-clasp as described, made of metal, bendable about a portion thereof as a hinge, said clasp comprising an ear, which, when the clasp is folded upon itself as described, extends in both forward and backward directions across the line of the aforesaid hinge.

2. An envelop-clasp,comprising a relatively narrow portion or shank terminating in a Wider portion, said Wider portion being out to form an ear extending rearwardly therefrom, the shank to be bent at a point thereof as a hinge, and the ear extending in both forward and backward directions beyond the line of the aforesaid hinge when the clasp is folded at such hinge, as described.

3. The envelop having an'unsealed flap provided with a slot, the body of said envelop having a clasp attached thereto, said clasp having a tongue made of bendable metal projecting in one direction therefrom, and ears projecting from said tongue in a rearward direction, whereby when said tongue is passed through said slot in said unsealed flap and is bent back on itself said tongue will lie over one edge of the slot and said projections will overlap the opposite edge of the slot, said slot being'slightly wider than the greatest width of said tongue as described.

4. An envelop-clasp, providing an eyelet and a tongue projecting therefrom in a plane at right angles'thereto, said tongue comprising a relatively narrow portion or shank terminating in a wider portion, said wider portion being cut to form an ear extending rearwardlyrtherefrom, the shank to be bent at a 10 point thereof as a hinge, and the ear extend- 

